If you’re looking to take your at-home entertaining to the next level, then an outdoor kitchen is the way to do it. With the right amount of shelter, your outdoor kitchen can be utilised all year round, meaning there’s really no excuse for not getting your friends and family over to your home for a meal.
Outdoor kitchens have fast become a must-have in home designs since they started taking off around 2018. Whether you’re big into barbecuing, love a good pizza fresh out of the oven or simply need more kitchen space, cooking outside is the way to go – especially in Western Australia. Take the cooking smells outside and leave your home smelling fresh.
So what are some of the main things to think about when planning to renovate your outdoor kitchen? We’ve compiled a list of 5 top tips to consider. Check them out:
1. Plan your space wisely
Planning makes perfect! When choosing the right outdoor kitchen design for your needs, it pays to plan well in advance and know how you’ll use your new space. Think about what your cooking needs will be, will you be entertaining family, do you want to have large parties outdoors, or do you simply want to move your cooking from the indoor kitchen outside?
Being planned doesn’t just include the design of the kitchen, but also the plumbing, electricity and other utilities required to bring your new outdoor kitchen to life. Try and ensure your outdoor kitchen enjoys easy access to your indoor one (and vice versa), to make it easy to grab ingredients and tools when required. A serving window is ideal for this and in some cases can double as a bar seating area for your guests so even if you’re inside you’re never too far from the action.
As for shelter, make sure there’s ample shade available, as well as protection from the wind and rain in the colder months. This means you can enjoy your new space all year round and also protect it from the elements so it lasts for many years to come.
2. Choose the right outdoor kitchen design
So, what do you plan on using your outdoor kitchen for? Is it more of a casual space, or an extension of your indoor kitchen, with dining area to match? It’s important to decide early on, then you can design your outdoor kitchen accordingly, and not be left trying to add or change things in the future.
Don’t forget to factor in the appliances that suit what you want to use your space for. A barbeque tend to be a given but what about pizza ovens, teppanyaki plates, smokers, wok burners, an oven and range hood, even a drinks fridge are all important things to think about.
And don’t forget about cleaning up. Do you want to be able to keep the mess outside? Then consider adding a sink to wash up or even a dishwasher to the space.
To help you out, why not view our outdoor kitchens range to get an idea of what your space could look like.
3. Let there be light
For daytime entertaining, you’ll want to make sure your outdoor kitchen enjoys plenty of natural light. Then, when the sun goes down, make sure you have enough lighting for cooking and prep surfaces, over your dining space and decorative lighting to add that sense of comfort (candles or festoon lights are a great option).
4. Outdoor kitchen layout
Just like an indoor kitchen, an outdoor kitchen requires a functional design to ensure seamless cooking and entertaining. Make sure you have enough bench space for food preparation, serving and storage, as well as areas for cleaning up after the meal is finished.
If your new outdoor kitchen is going to be close to your indoor kitchen, why not look at a layout that will see the two merge together seamlessly. This will create one large amazing entertaining space – a great option if your indoor kitchen is small and you’re looking for more space. You can do this by choosing doors to the outdoors that can open up and create a large space or by adding serving windows so the two spaces work together.
5. Choose the right materials
Even if you have great shelter against the elements, there’s no doubt your outdoor kitchen will need to be built of stronger stuff than your indoor one. So, how do you choose the right materials for your outdoor kitchen to make sure it stands the test of time?
This is where our master craftsmen come in! At Kitchen Craftsmen, we have worked hard to develop a range of durable materials to suit any outdoor kitchen design, from solid acrylic and compact laminate, to heat rated engineered stone surfaces. Offering the same high-quality construction, flexibility and design elements as an indoor kitchen, these materials are perfect for alfresco kitchens, and help to provide truly integrated indoor/outdoor entertaining areas.
If you’d like to start designing your new outdoor kitchen chat to us in person at one of our five showrooms across Perth.
For more information about Perth’s best range of custom-made outdoor kitchens, make sure to contact us today.